Current Science

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access

Science-Based and Community-Centred Approach to Restore and Sustain Mangrove Wetlands of India


Affiliations
1 M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, 3rd Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, India
2 No. 14, 6th Avenue, Ashok Nagar, Chennai 600 083, India
 

Mangroves of India remained degraded for many decades, and attempts to restore them yielded no appreciable results. Systematic studies revealed for the first time that changes in the biophysical condition due to past unscientific management practices are the real causes of mangrove degradation rather than utilization of mangrove resources by the local communities. Based on this finding, a simple and cost-effective method that improves the soil and hydrological conditions of the degraded areas to support the growth of mangroves has been developed and demonstrated. For upscaling, a community-centred joint mangrove management approach was developed and piloted in major mangroves along the east coast of India. Replication of this approach by government agencies resulted in a large-scale increase in Indian mangrove forest cover. Present issues relating to the participatory management of mangroves are also discussed in this article.

Keywords

Local Communities, Mangrove Restoration, Participatory Research, Science-Based Approach, Tidal Flushing, Village-Level Institutions.
User
Notifications
Font Size

  • Hutchison, J., Spalding, S. and zuErmgassen, P., The Role of Mangroves in Fisheries Management, University of Cambridge, The Nature Conservancy and Wetlands International, UK, 2014, p. 54.

  • Hunter, W. W., Statistical Account of the Districts of the 24 Parganas and the Sundarbans, Trubner and Co, London, UK, 1875, p.389.

  • Anon., Proceedings of the Mangrove Symposium, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Government of India, 1957, p. 136.

  • Swaminathan, M. S. and Kesavan, P. C., Agriculture in an era of climate change. Agric. Res., 2012, 1, 3–11.

  • Venkatesan, K. R., The mangroves of Madras state. Indian For., 1966, 92, 27–34.

  • Emery, K. O., A simple method of measuring beach profile. Limnol. Oceanogr., 1961, 6, 90–93.

  • Gordon, D. M., Disturbance to mangroves in tropical-arid Australia: hyper salinity and restricted tidal exchange as factors leading to mortality. J. Arid Environ., 1988, 15, 117–145.

  • Richards, L. A., Diagnosis and Improvement of Saline and Alkali Soils: Agriculture Handbook No. 60, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington DC, USA, 1954, p. 166.

  • M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Integrating conservation with development in the mangroves of Tamil Nadu. Project report (File No. 38-7-122-5) submitted to the Canadian International Development Agency, New Delhi, 1995, p. 65.

  • Blasco, F., Kerrest, R. and Marius, C., Considerations on some ecological factors influencing the biology of Indian mangroves. In Proceedings of the National Symposium on Biology, Utilization and Conservation of Mangroves, Shivaji University, Kolhapur, 1986.

  • Venkataramany, P., Working plan for the Chingleput Forest Division (1949–50 to 1963–64), Forest Department, Government of Madras, Madras, 1954, p. 57.

  • Venkatesan, K. R., Working Plan for the Cuddalore Forest Division (1966–67 to 1975–1976), Forest Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, 1972, p. 132.

  • Stephens, J. C. and Speir, W. H., Subsidence of organic soils in the USA. In Land Subsidence (ed. Tison, L. J.), International Association for Hydrological Sciences Publication No. 89, USA, 1969, pp. 523–534.

  • USDA, Soil Survey Manual, United States Department of Agriculture Handbook No. 18, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington DC, USA, 1995, p. 305.

  • Selvam, V., An assessment of mangrove management during the colonial and post colonial periods. Curr. Sci., 2021, 120, 766–771.

  • MSSRF, Annual Report 1994–95. M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, 1995, pp. 11–12; http://59.160.153.188/library/sites/default/files/AR1994-1995.pdf

  • Selvam, V., Ravichandaran, K. K., Gnanappazham, L. and Navamunnyamal, N., Assessment of community-based restoration of Pichavaram mangrove wetland using remote sensing data. Curr. Sci., 2003, 86, 794–798.

  • Selvam, V., Karunagaran, V. M., Ravichandaran, K. K. and Beula, E. J., Joint mangrove management in Tamil Nadu part 2: Participatory rural appraisal in mangrove user villages. MSSRF, Chennai, 2004, p. 134; http://59.160.153.188/library/sites/default/files/Joint%20mangrove%20mgt%20in%20TN%20part%203.pdf

  • Anon., Annual Administration Report of the Forest Department, Madras Presidency for the Year 1894–95, Government Press, 1896, p. 340.

  • Ravishankar, T., Gnanappazham, L., Ramasubramanian, R., Sridhar, R., Navamuniyammal, N. and Selvam, V., Atlas of Mangrove Wetlands of India: Part II. Andhra Pradesh, MSSRF, Chennai, 2002, p. 68; http://59.160.153.188/library/sites/default/files/Mangrovewetlands% 20Andhra.pdf

  • MSSRF, The mangrove decade and beyond: activities, lessons and challenges in mangrove conservation and management, 1990– 2001, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, 2002, p. 40; http://59.160.153.188/library/sites/default/files/Mangrove%20decade%20and%20beyond.pdf

  • Selvam, V., Ravishankar, T., Karunagaran, V. M., Ramasubramanian, R., Eganathan, P. and Parida, A. K., Tool kit for establishing coastal Bioshield, MSSRF, Chennai, 2005, p. 117; http://59.160.153.188/library/sites/default/files/Toolkit%20for%20establishing%20coastal%20biosheid_0.pdf

  • Selvam, V., Mani, K. G., Karunagaran, V. M., Ravichandaran, K. K. and Beula, E. J., Joint mangrove management in Tamil Nadu part 3: Village Mangrove Council, MSSRF, Chennai, 2004, p. 56; http://59.160.153.188/library/sites/default/files/Joint%20mangrove%20mgt%20in%20TN%20part%203.pdf

  • MSSRF, Annual Report 1998–99, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, 2000; http://59.160.153.188/library/sites/default/files/AR1998-1999.pdf

  • MoEF&CC, National mangrove conservation and management: guidelines for implementation, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, 2006, p. 45.

  • OFSD, Technical Manual for Restoration of Mangroves, Orissa Forest Sector Development Project, Forest and Environment Department, 2010, p. 81; http://ofsds.in/Publication/TechnicalManualMangrove.pdf

  • FSI, State of Forest Report 2017, Forest Survey of India, MoEF&CC, GoI, 2018, pp. 55–61; https://fsi.nic.in/isfr2017/isfrmangrovecover-2017.pdf

  • MSSRF and IUCN, Mangrove restoration and afforestation: participatory assessment of current practices, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, Chennai, 2011, p. 102; https://www.mangrovesforthefuture.org/assets/Repository/Documents/003-SG-IN-01-02-05.pdf


Abstract Views: 379

PDF Views: 121




  • Science-Based and Community-Centred Approach to Restore and Sustain Mangrove Wetlands of India

Abstract Views: 379  |  PDF Views: 121

Authors

V. Selvam
M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, 3rd Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area, Taramani, Chennai 600 113, India
P. Thamizoli
No. 14, 6th Avenue, Ashok Nagar, Chennai 600 083, India

Abstract


Mangroves of India remained degraded for many decades, and attempts to restore them yielded no appreciable results. Systematic studies revealed for the first time that changes in the biophysical condition due to past unscientific management practices are the real causes of mangrove degradation rather than utilization of mangrove resources by the local communities. Based on this finding, a simple and cost-effective method that improves the soil and hydrological conditions of the degraded areas to support the growth of mangroves has been developed and demonstrated. For upscaling, a community-centred joint mangrove management approach was developed and piloted in major mangroves along the east coast of India. Replication of this approach by government agencies resulted in a large-scale increase in Indian mangrove forest cover. Present issues relating to the participatory management of mangroves are also discussed in this article.

Keywords


Local Communities, Mangrove Restoration, Participatory Research, Science-Based Approach, Tidal Flushing, Village-Level Institutions.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv121%2Fi10%2F1288-1296